Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/457

 him." (John  ix.  2.)  Learn  from  this,  that  sicknesses  and calamities  are  not  always  sent  as  punishments  of  sin,  but to  give  us  opportunities  of  increasing  the  glory  of  God, by  our  virtuous  submission.  Such  was  the  case  with holy  Job,  Tobias  and  others,  in  which  cases,  "  I  must work the  works  of  Him  that  sent  me,"  observes  Jesus Christ,  "  whilst  it  is  day,"  that  is,  whilst  the  day  of  this mortal  life  lasts.  With  much  more  reason  ought  you  to perform  the  same  works,  whilst  you  live,  before  "you go, and  return  no  more,  to  a  land  that  is  dark  and  covered with the  mist  of  death."    (Job  x.  21.)

III. " Christ  spat  on  the  ground,  and  made  clay  of  the spittle  and  spread  the  clay  upon  his  eyes." He applied a remedy  suited  by  its  nature  rather  to  injure  than  to cure,  in  order  to  show  His  power. If you  wish  to  be  relieved from  the  spiritual  blindness  of  your  soul,  frequently think  of  the  base  materials  of  which  you  are formed. Remember, man,  that  "  dust  thou  art,  and  into dust  thou  shalt  return." (Gen. iii.  19.)

I. This  poor  man  was  grateful  for  the  favor  which he had  received  from  Christ. He published  loudly  to the  world,  "  That  man,  who  is  called  Jesus,  made  clay and  anointed  my  eyes." (John ix.  11.)  He  resolutely and constantly  professed  Christ  to  be  a  prophet,  even before the  Pharisees,  without  fearing  the  dangerous  consequences of  their  anger. He patiently  bore  all  the  insults and  contumelious  language  of  these  hypocrites. "Thou art  wholly  born  in  sins,"  they  say,  "  and  dost